Ryan McNeil
This week The Matineecast is a birthday celebration. It’s not the show’s birthday (that happens in November), but my own. And since much of the show’s first year and a half have been archived, you might not know it, but the show actually has a birthday tradition.
I could explain it here, but then what reason would you have to listen to the show?
What I will mention here though is how grateful I am to this week’s guest for stepping in at the last minute and being such a badass guest! I’m a bit of a demanding host in the way that I rely on the kindness of strangers, and moments like this make me feel lucky to know such smart and outgoing bloggers.
So grab a piece of cake and pull on your doofy headphones; it’s time to talk about a film that’s a personal favorite and sing the praises of those that inspire us.
Here’s what’s in store in episode fifty-nine…
Runtime
71 minutes, 22 seconds
Up for Discussion
1. Introduction
2. KNOW YOUR ENEMY– Q& A with this week’s guest Joanna Chlebus from Reel Feminist and Filmoria (3:17)
3. COME TALK TO ME – Fielding some listener feedback on birthday movies (15:09)
4. THE NEW SLANG – Review and reaction of HIGH FIDELITY (28:31)
5. THE BEST OF YOU: Ryan and Joanna talk about blogs and podcasts they dig. (42:50)
Blogs and Podcasts Discussed in The Best of You
Cinematic Paradox
The Cinementals
Dear Film
The Droid You’re Looking For
Film Forager
The Frame
Green People Soup
MaMo! (iTunes)
Pussy Goes Grrr
The Velvet Cafe
More behind the scenes info on this episode can be found on Twitter by searching out #matm59
You can subscribe to the Matineecast via iTunes or RSS
Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening.
Enjoy!
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I’m born in 1992. I wouldn’t generally be this fussed, but it’s my big 2-0 year and as far away as I am from that age, the happier I am.
I have nothing for or against prequels. I haven’t seen any bad ones really. I’m avoiding the Star Wars ones because I saw the original trilogy this year and I liked them, but didn’t love them and it seems that if I do watch them, I’ll hate them.
I LOVE HIGH FIDELITY! I sometimes think that I have a man’s perspective. Weird. But still, I really love this film. Also soundtrack-wise, this is the classic example of how I wouldn’t like many of the songs on their own because of different tastes, but in this film I love them. Also extra points for talking about Lloyd Dobler 😀
He really did ruin men for women- unrealistic expectations from life.
Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY 😀 😀
I think this is two or three episodes now where you’ve been the first listener – appreciate the enthusiasm! And apologies by the way – I believe I mistakenly named your year as 1991 in the feedback section.
Well if you like the Hi-Fi soundtrack, I do hope you enjoyed its use throughout this episode. I wanted to drop in Lisa Bonet’s cover of “baby, I Love Your Way” but couldn’t track it down online…if it even exists as a full track.
And thanks for the birthday wishes – there will be more discussion of Ryan-pa-Looza on Friday.
This episode reminded me that I need to rewatch High Fidelity. I liked it when I first saw it about four or five years ago, but I wasn’t into music at all at the time so I wonder if I’d appreciate it more now that I probably understand and have heard a lot of the musical references made in the film.
Also, great idea for The Best of You. You mentioned some folks I love as well as some people I’ve heard of but shamefully not checked out yet and a few I’ve not hear of yet I need to take a look at.
Somehow I’ve ended up listening to four of your podcasts this month. Not sure how that happened. Hopefully it becomes a trend.
Four episodes this month, eh? Considering I’ve only posted three, that’s quite the compliment!
If you’ve become a bigger music fan in the time between your first watch of the film and now, you definitely need to give it another look. The dialogue just bleeds rock & roll both in attitude and in specific reference.
Glad the “Best” section was to your liking. In the past, this has been a spot where I’ve discovered some pretty great sites thanks to my guests – and as mentioned within the course of the show, one such suggestion nudged me towards someone who is now a dear friend.
Thanks for listening mate – gotta get you on this thing soon.
Happy, happy birthday when it will come in a couple of days!
Loved the show as always. The inclusion of my blog came as a bit of a shock. Thank you! (Even though you DO give me some performance anxiety now!)
Interesting to hear your take in High Fidelity. I remember loving the book and liking the movie well enough. I have no idea of how it would hold up at a re-watching, if I’d become annoyed at it. Perhaps I don’t want to find out…
The question… it was prequels, wasn’t it? If I had an opinion on it… Honestly I don’t think I’ve watched enough of them to have that. I didn’t care much for the more recent Star War movies, like most others. On the other hand I loved the Planet of the Apes movie from last year, which I guess you might say is a kind of prequel.
So… I’m sorry. I fail to give you a clear answer. You’ll have to tell me how it IS in the next show. 🙂
Part of what I like most about doing this show is how the sites I choose to discuss never know they’ll be discussed until the episode goes up. Glad you enjoyed the surprise.
I don’t think you’d get annoyed with HIGH FIDELITY so much as you might find it interesting. It falls prey to the way our outlook on life and relationships changes as we get older…so 34-year-old me doesn’t see Rob’s side of things the same way that 22-year-old me did.
Thanks for the shout-out, really appreciate it. Can’t wait for the PROMETHEUS show!
You’re welcome – and I’m in a high state of anticipation myself. You better be bringing the goods Brown, I’m counting on you to elevate the show to a whole ‘nother level.
Mentioned my enjoyment on Twitter, but seriously, great job. I need to revisit HIGH FIDELITY. I always pegged Gordon for an asshole (the film makes a pretty good companion piece to CHASING AMY in terms of white douchey angst being both embraced and critiqued), and I also love Jack Black in it. Hell, I love Jack Black in general, barring some unfortunate career moves.
Can’t wait to explore some of these new blog recs more.
Damn – this would have made a great companion piece to CHASING AMY. How the hell did I miss out on *that* double-feature? Cinephile Fail.
I haven’t watched HIGH FIDELITY for a few years (it was bought in the pre-DVD days), but I remember not relating well with Rob Gordon and seeing him as a shallow jerk right from the get go. I never found any of his outbursts particularly funny, but I still like the film as a story of self-realization.
As for the Prequel Question:
Prequels may be interesting to watch, but at the end of the day they don’t matter, since you already know where they are going. In fact, I’m getting sick of all the three types of “quels”: Sequels, Prequels, and Requels (a sequel or prequel that is also part remake – i.e. The Thing).
Give it another look sometime soon – it’s coming out on blu-ray this summer and I remain guardedly optimistic that it will come with new features.
Some good choices in terms of sites to recognize.
Keep up the good work Ryan.
Thanks dude – seems as though most of them were both surprised and happy to hear someone singing their praises.
Oh hey favorite people, excellent episode! I was happy to hear everyone agree that Rob is equally a jerk and and an idiot in HIGH FIDELITY, since that’s how I feel though I do find the film lovable overall. And great list of film blogs, I have some awesome new sites to read! (And thank you again so much for saying such nice things about me and my blog, aw shucks. I’m glad CLOSE ENCOUNTERS watches you while you work, Ryan.)
Joanna good luck with your move to a new site, I’m happy to read anything you write no whatever where it is! And happy birthday, Ryan! I’m glad this time around you got to talk about a movie you loved, as opposed to GET HIM TO THE GREEK the time I was on haha.
As for prequels, I think the idea is often better than the execution. There are a lot of background stories I would love to see, but if actually made it usually doesn’t turn out well. I am anxiously awaiting a Black Widow/Hawkeye prequel for THE AVENGERS though. Let’s make this happen, guys. They’ve got the best butts out of anyone in the movie.
In short order, ALMOST FAMOUS will be watching over me too since I’m finally getting around to framing that up!
It’s funny, for 2.5 years I haven’t given a second thought to making the feature discussion on the show a discussion about a dvd…but I just didn’t want to wearily cover something I didn’t care much about for the third time. Oddly enough, by contrast, the Thanksgiving show which has its own tradition has discussed great flicks in THE SOCIAL NETWORK and 50/50…
…maybe I shoulda been born in October.
Thanks Alex! 🙂
Happy almost-birthday! Such a cool show. Thanks for the shout out, too! I feel kinda pressured to have the best taste out of everyone, haha. I’m sorry for being too young 🙁
Don’t be sorry for being too young! I’m constantly trying to up my film literacy the same way you are and I’m twice your age. When I was 17, I hadn’t even heard of THE RED SHOES, let alone seen it.
Don’t feel any pressure, just keep doin’ what you’re doin’ dude – Lammy nominated dude at that!
PS – Prequels?
Hmmmmm…prequels. I’m neither here nor there on them. They must be so meh to me because the only prequel that comes to mind is Puss in Boots. And that movie wasn’t very good. Haha. Congrats on your multiple LAMMY nominations! I know I’m doing something right when I wind up in the same category as you.
Sigh. Moe-Hah-Reb.
Good episode, though. I still haven’t seen High Fidelity all the way. I’ll see if I can find it.
As for Prequels: Generally, un-necessary. The Before Watchmen minis, for a graphic novel example, seem to be just puffing up things we’d already read.
The Star Wars prequels are the top example of giving us the part of the story we didn’t want.
I also haven’t seen Godfather 2.
Book wise, Lord of the Rings was a sequel to The Hobbit. Film wise, The Hobbit is being released as a prequel to the LotR films.
I hate when that happens – I’m so sorry dude. Won’t happen again.
Definitely check out High Fidelity. It is aging beautifully and like so many of us, I wager you’ll see slivers of yourself in the narrative.
Is Rob an idiot or an asshole? I would agree with you that he is primarily an idiot but doesn’t he also say directly to the camera that “I’m an asshole”? Or do you suppose that’s him justifying it his own mind – like, it’s easier to be an asshole than an idiot because at least then you THINK you’re in control of your idiotic decisions?
As for prequels, I think it’s case by case basis. I think they can be great in cases like “Godfather 2” where they deepen and add extra layers to a saga but too often – like with the much discussed “Star Wars” prequels – they take away a great deal of mystery and prevent the audience from filling in blanks and imagining off screen details in their own way.
After he opens up about what Laura would have told Liz, he does conclude by saying “She’s right. I am a fucking asshole”.
My question though was more about him overall, since even after that moment of self-reflection, he still continues to do and say some odd things. Is it just meta storytelling run amok, or is it his cluelessness that’s fuelling the selfish decision-making.
Great episode. I love High Fidelity for the music more than I do for the film itself. How great would it be to have that record collection?
In regards to prequels, I’m generally not a fan. Two that are quite fun are X-MEN First Class and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Oh, and Happy Birthday Ryan 🙂
Thanks for the birthday wish – y’already gave me a great gift, more listenership!
And I’d give my right arm for that record collection. I have a very modest cabinet full of new and vintage LP’s, but were I to give in to my vices, I’d be at the record store every week building up a library like his.
Kinda sick, ain’t it?